Automatic coin-box



E. H. THOMPSON. AUTOMATIC COIN BOX.

APPLICATION FILED UCT- 24, l9l3- RENEWED MAR-18. 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

W ms w mw EIH. THOMPSON.

AUTOMATIC COIN BOX.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT-24, l9l-3- RENEWED MAR. 18.1919.

1,325,766. Patented Dec. 23,1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E. H. THOMPSON.

AUTOMATIC com BOX.

.APPLICATION FILED DBL 24, I913- RENEWED MAR. 113M919.

Patented Dec. 23,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST H. 'rnomrson, or nvansron, ILLINOIS.

' a AUTOMATIC COIN-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

Application filed October 24, 1913, Serial No. 797,121. Renewed March 18, 1919. Serial No. 283,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST H. THOMP4 SON, citizen of the United States, and resident of Evanston, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Coin-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin boxes and is intended to provide a simple and reliable means for receivingthe coins of usual denominations deposited as fare and to return automatically to the depositor the appropriate change, according to the denomination of the coin delivered.

A feature of the invention consists in the combination with a suitable coin receiver, of means for delivering change automatically by the mere depositing of the coin without requiring any part ofthe apparatus to be actuated by the depositor. Another feature of the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of mechanism by which a coin or blank of a size not appropriate to the machine is rejected and returned to the depositor but without delivering any change.

These and other features of the invention will be more particularly described in the following specification and set forth in the claims annexed thereto.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation chiefly in central section, of a coin box embodying the principles of the present in- Pl ne immed ly inf a vention;

Fig. 2 is a 'vertical elevation on the plane of the partition a with said partition being removed.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the plane immediately beneath the electromagnet c with portions of parts broken away to show the interior thereof.

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of the changedelivering slides;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuits; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation with the front casing removed; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the th, 1 9 end f these ch of the spring- W compressedspringgdtlocat n illusfof the solenoid coiled. Th V 1 s ab eof coin; chutes a a' for receiving"respectively, let us; say, d mer and; q r ers depos thr i h' ppropriate'slots in'the topof thecasmg. At"

As it is desirableto nsea for" actuating v the --solenoid: p ngerand utes are provided chutes and spaced apart a sufficient distance.

to arrest the respective coins, which serve by their contact with said plates \or terminals to close the electric circuit in which they are included by the wires 12 which lead to the energizing battery or source of the current.

The coin chutes are included in a vertical chamber or passage formed between the front wall a and a parallel interior wall a The latter wall is provided with perforations corresponding in size to the respective coins and through these perforations pass the horizontal plungers 00, whose centers correspond to the centersof the respective coins as the coins rest on the contact or terminal plates b. To the rear of the wall or partition a is another vertical partition wall a similarly perforated to allow the reciprocation of the plungers therein. The walls a and a form a sort of a pocket with an inclined floor a along which the coin rolls to drop into the coin receptacle 0, The space between the walls a o leads at its bottom to an open trough a which is accessible from the outside, so that a coin dropped through the front passage falls into said trough or shelf, from which it can be recovered by the depositor.

. It is intended to transfer the coin into the passageway betweenthe walls a a leading to the coin receptacle a, if the coin is the proper one for the chuteQin which it is deposited. This is accomplished by means of push rods 0 c secured to a cross head '0 in central alinement with the plungers,-the front Wall a being perforated to allow the push rods 0 to pass'through and press the coin rearwardly against the front end of the hollow plunger 0. A feature of this the plunger is secured to a.

is "CQnnected to the'fl' t fi 'O l- 5 by means of the connectingf dsic its connected mechanism tha ent through the deposited coin without'injurin it, I employ the coin controlled circuit to energize a relay magnet e adjacent to which is suspended a swinging arm 6 which carries a soft iron bar or armature e provided with depending arms e and normally held out of contact with the magnet cores by means of the retractile spring 6.

The armature e with its dependingarms e is intended to complete the circuit between the two terminals or contact members (2 e", which are provided with ripplng springs a intended to receive and old the knife blades or depending arms 6 against disengagement by means of the retractile spring when the solenoid c011 1s deenergized, as will be hereinafter explained. It will be understood that the support for the swinging arm 6 carrying t e armature switch is insulated from the casing, as indicated at 0 From the foregoing it Wlll be understood that the deposit ofa coin in elther chute causes the energizing of the relay magnet coils e through the medium of the deposited coin as it rests upon the contact plates 6. This throws the armature switch into electrical contact with the terminals 6", e which are in circuit with the solenoid coil and thereby energizes the solenoid so as retract the plunger which draws back with it the cross head 0 with the push rod 0 Either push rod 0 forces back its corresponding plunger 0 through the medium of the interposed coin, and forces the coin through the orifice in the wall a. To release the solenoid switch. a I secure to the solenoid plunger 03 a projecting bar or arm d s0 positioned as to engage the depend-' ing arms 6 on the switch and release them from the gripping members 0, thus causing the solenoid circuit to be broken and allowing the plunger, under the pressure of the spring sition. It will be understood that as soon as the coin is pushed out of contact with the terminals 6, the relay magnet ceases to be energized.

As the plunger perforations in the wall at are made of a size to admit no coin or slug lar er than the coin intended for use there, suc larger coin when deposited cannot pass through said aperture, although of course itenergizes the relay and sets the solenoid in motion; Unless some provision were made for releasing too large a coin the solenoid would remam permanently energized and the coin would be pinched between the push rod 0 and the plunger 0, thus stallin the machine. To prevent this the solenoi circuit is carried through additional terminals f which are normally closed, but which are adapted to be momentarily broken by contact with a projectingboss f on the cros 66 bar a, which is so located witlr reference to d, to move forward into normal po t that serves to disengage or release the coin held between the member 0 and the member 0 allowing it to drop into the tra 'a whence it can be recovered by the depositor. Of course, this interruption of the circuit at the switch f, f occurs when the proper coin is deposited, but in such case since the break is only a momentary one, the momentum of the moving plunger and cross head frame is sufficient to carry the 0mm head beyond the switch connection f, so that the switch is immediatel closed and the energizing of the solenoldcontinued until the solenoid switch a is-knocked off from its contact points.

If too small a coin'be deposited it will, of course, not be retained b the contact plates 6, but will fall througli the passage into the delivery tray a.

The change mechanism embraces a change reservoir or receptacle g at whose lower end is arranged two reciprocatin slides g g provided with perforationso a size to admit the nickels which are piled. up in the changereservoir. The upper slide is of the thickness of three nickels and the lower slide is of the thickness of one nickel, so that when the perforations in the two slides re ister and both slides are moved forwar four coins are removed from the change receptacle and allowed to drop into the offset passagea leading to the tray a". When the dime is deposited only the lower slide 9 should be moved in order to deliver one nickel in change. This is accomplished b means of the lever g secured to the rot shaft 9 which is actuated by an upwardly extending lever g engaging the plunger 0, which is actuated by the dime. The parts are so proportioned that the coin carried in the perforations of the slide 9 is not free to the plunger 0 has been retracted far enough to allow the coin to drop inside of the coin passage at the rear of the wall a, at which f has termin ployed.

fall into the change-carrying chute a until In order to deliver four nickels from the change reservoir when I a quarter is deposited, I provide a lever g secured to the rock shaft 57 which has an upwardly ex- 189 in Y1 nickels into the change tray. 7

To prevent the mechanism from accepting a com when the number of COIIIS 1n the change reservoir are reduced to four or less,

' I provide a stop member h, which is pivoted to the lower slide, and which normally abuts against a fixed ledge 72, adjacent to the change receptacle. When the lower slide moves forward this stop member h, by abutting against the ledge h' prevents the further forward movement of the slide and prevents also, .through the medium of the connecting levers and rock shaft, any further rearward movement'of the coin plunger 0,

the stop being so proportioned as to arrest the coin plunger before the coin passes through the wall a and at the point where the temporar current-breaking switch f is actuated, so t at the coin deposited, whether a dime or a quarter is returned to the tray 0,. When, however, there are five or more nickels in the change reservoir, the stop member 7 is rendered inoperative by means of the pivoted tongue h abutting against the fifth coin from the bottom of the receptacle and acting on the principle of a toggle as the slide moves forward to lift the stop member it so that it will not engage the ledge 71., thereby allowing the coin transferring mechanism and the change delivering mechanism to have its normal operation.

While I have shown and described the mechanism adapted for receiving and making change for coins of two different denominations, namely dimes and quarters, it will of course be understood that the principle is capable of indefinite extension, and that any number of coin chutes and coin transferring and change delivering members maybe employed by the application of the same principle.

What I claim is 1. In a coin box the combination of a coin chute, coin-supporting means therein, a coin receptacle, a carrier for transferring a coin from said chute to said receptacle, changedel-ivering mechanism actuated by said carrier, and means automatically set in operation through the agency of the deposited coin for actuating the coin carrier and thereby actuating the change-delivering mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a coin box the combination with a coin receptacle, of a coin chute, a partition separating said chute from the coin receptacle, and provided'with a selective aperture, and electrically operated means for transferring the coin from the chute through the aperture in said partition, said electrically'operated means being actuated by an electric current that is energized through the agency of the deposited coin, substantially as described.

3. The combination of coin receiving and retaining means forming insulated terminals of an electric circuit which are electrically connected by the depositing of a coin, transferrmg mechanism energized by the closing of said circuit through the agency of the coin to remove the coin from said retaining means and change deliverlng mechanism act'- ing to deliver change when the transferring mechanism has moved the coin to a predetermined point, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a solenoid and its reciprocatory plunger, coin retaining ledges forming the terminals of a controlling electric circuit that is closed by the coin restin thereon, a switchoperated. by said contro ling circuit to close the solenoid circuit, cooperating members actuated through said solenoid plunger for moving the coin from said retaining ledges and means for deenergizing the solenoid at a predetermined point to allow the coin to be released from said cotiperating members, substantially as described. 7

5. The combinationwith coin retaining members forming insulated terminals of an electric circuit, an electromagnet included in said circuit, a solenoid and its plunger, coin moving members actuated by said plunger to remove the coin from said terminals and a switch operated by the said magnet to close the solenoid circuit, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the coin retaining members of a sliding plunger arranged ing member to pinch the coin against said plunger and move. it through said partition, an electrically actuated member for moving the plunger and the pinching member through the partition and change delivering mechanism actuated by the. plunger to deliver the amount of change, substantially as described. I

8. The combination of coin supporting means, a reciprocating frame for engaging and moving said coin, a cooperating plunger against which said mechanism forces the coin, a solenoid plunger for actuating said reciprocating frame to carry the coin away from said supporting means and means for temporarily breaking the circuit at a redetermined point in the movement 0 said .plunger and frame, substantially as described.

9. Coin supporting members forming terminals of an electromagnet, a switch actu-.

ated by said electromagnet, a solenoid whose circuit is closed by the closingofsald swltch,

- a dividing perforated partition se arating means for operatively connecting said coin removing means with the change delivering member to cause the change to be delivered, substantially as described.

11. .The combination with the change reservoir, a plurality of slides for remoying a predetermined number of coins therefrom,

a coin receptacle, means automaticall operated upon the deposit of a coin in't e machine for conducting the deposited coin to its receptacle in advance of actuating said change-delivering slides to the point of delivering change, substantially as described. 12. The combination with coin retaining means of a plunger mechanism automatically set in operation through the agency of.

the coin deposited on said retaining means,

said plunger mechanism acting as a carrier for the .coin deposited, a change reservoir and a plurality of change-deliverin men bers actuated by said plunger mec anism for delivering a redetermined number of coins from the c ange reservoir, substantially as. described.

13. The combination with electrically insulated means for supporting a deposited coin, of the electrically actuated means for transferring said coin to a suitable receptacle, said transferring means bein rendered. operative through. the agency 0 the com.

when deposited upon said supporting means, said transferring means consisting of two separate members,.one of which is actuated by the other through the interposed coin,

the actuated member remaining inactivewhen no coin is interposed, substantially as described.

- 14. In a coin box the combination of a casing provided with a coin chute and having a receptacle for coins of predetermined size and another receptacle for coins of different size, a diaphragm separating thepassages to the respective receptacles and provided with a orifice to allow the passa e of" coins o proper size to the first name receptacle beyond said diaphragm,

and coin transferring means automatically operated through the agency of the depositedcoin to carry a coin of proper size through said orifice and to release a coin of improper size'in front of said diaphragm, substantially as described.

15. The combination with two separated terminals of an electric circuit arranged to be closed by a coin deposited thereon,

smaller size, a partitlon provided with an orifice in alinement with the coin supported on said terminals, said orifice being of a size to admit the passage of a redetermined coin and to exclude a coin 0 larger diameter, transfer mechanism for moving said coin through said aperture, said transferri n mechanism being. automatically operate by an electrical current whose circuit is closed by the action of a controlling circuit which includes said terminals, and change-deliverin mechanism operatively connected with t e coin transferring mechanism to deliver change after, the coin has passed through said partition, substantially as described.

17. The combination' with means for supporting a deposited coin, automatically operated mechanism for removing said com therefrom, change 'delivering slides, a change-containing receptacle arranged to register with apertures in said slides, a

toggle member mounted on said slide to eng ge a coin in a predetermined position in said receptacle in order to move one of the toggle members out of arresting position, and stationary means arranged to arrest'the toggle member when the toggle member is not moved from operative position owing to the absence of a coin from the predetermined position, substantially as described.

18. In a coin box the combination of casing provided with a coin chute and having a a solenoid plunger actuated by said receptacle for coins of predetermined S1Z6 and another receptacle for coins of different size, a diaphragm separating the passages to a single coin,

carry a coinof proper size through said orifice and to release a coin ofimproper size in front of said diaphragm, and change-dehvermg means automatlcally operated by the said coin-'transferring means a r the I -.de osited coin has been carried through the v n u combinatlon a orlficein' said diaphragm, suhstantia 1y as described. 19. An 'automaticeoin box embracing in change containing receptacle, a perforated change-delivering slide plate corresponding to the thickness of a plurality of coins, a supplemental perforated underlying slide plate a corresponding .in thickness means actuated through the medium of a de ositedcoin for operating either the under ying slide singly or both slides conjointly according-to the denomination of the coin deposited whereby either a single coin'ora plurality of coins are removed from said change receptacle, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a change containing receptacle, a change-delivering slide plate arranged beneath 'said change receptherefrom,

tacle and movable transversely thereof to remove a predetermined amount of change means for actuating said slide plate through the medium of a deposited coin, toggle. members connected with said slide plate, a stop arranged to engage one of said toggle members when saidtoggle member is in unflexed position, the other toggle member being arranged to engage a coin at atpredetermined level to cause defiexing of said members, substantially as described.

21. The combination of a coin receiving chute whose side wall is provided with a gaging aperture for the passage-of coins deposited in said chute, coin transferring means for carrying said coin through said a change container and change-deaperture,

slide arranged to cooperate thereliverlng with, toggle members connected with said actuating both imposed one over with the open coin transferring means and acting when unflexed to arrest the movement of said slide and of said coin transferring means, one of said toggle members being arranged to normally engage a coin in the container above the level of the slide in order to flex said slide and operatively connected with the toggle members and allow the complete traverse of the coin transferring means and the change-delivering slide, substantially as described.

22. The combination of a casing provided with'a diaphragm having gaging orlfices for coins of different size, a change receptacle and.lower slide plate corresponding to the thickness of one coin,.a superim osedslide plate corresponding to the thic ess of a plurality .of such coms, means for actuating the lower slide plate alone by means of an appropriate coin deposited when passed through one gaging orifice, and means. for slides conjointly b means of an appropriate coin deposited w en passed through the other gaging orifice, both slides being provided with apertures located to comeinto registerwith said change'receptacle, and a coin receptacle forreceiving the coins from said slide plates when one or both of said slide plates are moved to delivery position, substantially as described.

taining stack, apertured slide plates superthe other and registering lower end of the said change stack to receive coins therefrom, .an outlet passage located in a lane offset to said change containing stac means for actuating one or both of said slide plates according as a smaller or larger coin is deposited in a coin receiving chute, means for prevent ing the full rearward traverse of said actuatmg means when the coms available for change fall below a predetermined number, substantially as described. I

In witness whereof I have subscribed the above specification. V

. ERNEST H. THOMPSON. In the presence of- Geo. N. GODDARD,

' ARTHUR F. RANDALL.

23. The combination with a change con- 

